World Grand Prix darts results: Peter Wright to face MVG in final after coming from 3-0 down to beat Mensur Suljovic
Peter Wright produced one of the finest comebacks in World Grand Prix history to defeat Mensur Suljovic and he'll now meet Michael van Gerwen in Saturday night's final in Dublin.
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Appearing in the semi-finals of the unique double-start major for the first time, Snakebite had only won two legs by the time the imperious Austrian had stormed into a 3-0 set lead but incredibly picked himself off the floor to win the next four in succession thanks to a barrage of 180s and clinical finishing.
Wright's hopes of reaching his maiden World Grand Prix final were hanging by a thread at 2-2 in the fourth set when three missed darts at double from 24 left him three. But with Suljovic waiting on 34 for the match, the Scotsman held his nerve on his next visit to stay alive and get his first set on the board.
The world number two won the fifth set 3-1 as Suljovic's incredible levels began to drop while a stunning 130 checkout when 2-1 up in the sixth forced a deciding set.
He maintained his momentum to win the next three legs without reply, finding the job with an 80 checkout to complete a 14-darter and he'll now meet Michael van Gerwen, who crushed defending champion Daryl Gurney 4-1.
Wright averaged 93.38, hit seven 180s and nailed 14 of his 40 attempts at doubles while Suljovic's averaged 92.74 having been over 100 early on, managed five 180s, hit 13 of 35 double attempts and made a match high checkout of 133.
"I never doubted I would win the game, I always believe in myself," Wright told www.pdc.tv. "Even when I was 3-0 down I was playing pretty well but Mensur was playing awesome - all I could do was re-focus and hope that he wouldn't keep it up.
"When I hit the double one to get my first set I celebrated to try and fire myself up. The crowd were getting behind me, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have made it so far in the tournament."
The 2016 UK Open champion, who is searching for the second big TV major of his career, won't fear facing MVG having pulled off another fine comeback against the Dutchman at the Champions League of Darts two weeks ago.
After seeing off Gurney in impressive fashion, van Gerwen is eyeing his 17th individual title of the 2018 season but it would be 'just' his fourth on TV having been foiled at the UK Open, World Matchplay and the Champions League.
With all three of those tournaments being won by Gary Anderson, there had been talk leading up to Dublin that the Flying Scotsman was now the most feared player on the planet - but a fourth World Grand Prix title for MVG in his fifth final here in the last seven years would emphatically suggest otherwise.
Van Gerwen romped into a 3-0 set lead against Gurney although the second and third were clinched with final leg deciders, as the world number one kicked them both off with 160s.
The Northern Irishman finally got on the board when cruising through the fourth set 3-0 but it was merely a stay of execution as the Dutchman polished off the fifth 3-1 and completed the job with a 14-darter.
MVG averaged 97.06, hit six 180s compared to Gurney's four, pinned 12 of his 25 attempts at finishing doubles and nailed the highest checkout of the match with a 115.
"I have to win tomorrow, it's as simple as that," said van Gerwen, the Dublin champion in 2012, 2014 and 2016. "Reaching the final means nothing if you don't win it so I am focusing on everything I need to do right tomorrow.
"We're going to see tomorrow if Peter knows how to beat me and I need to make sure I do the right things at the right moments."
World Grand Prix semi-final results
Click here for full tournament results
Friday October 5 (7pm)
Semi-Finals (Best of seven sets)
- Mensur Suljovic 3-4 Peter Wright
- Daryl Gurney 1-4 Michael van Gerwen
Saturday October 6 (8pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of nine sets)
- Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
Preceded by Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay final (Approx 7.10pm)
Kevin Burness v Mick McGowan